Timef 06/17/2025

Chatbots are increasingly looking to keep people chatting, using familiar tactics that we’ve already seen lead to negative consequences. Sycophancy can make AI chatbots respond in a way that’s overly agreeable or flattering. And while having a digital hype person might not seem like a dangerous thing, it is actually a tactic used by tech […]

Elon Musk's xAI company is looking to raise $4.3 billion in equity funding, adding onto the $5 billion it's seeking in debt funding.

TechCrunch All Stage, our founder-focused summit, is gearing up to return to Boston on July 15! We’re doing a last call for exceptional volunteers to join us in bringing this event to life. If you’ve ever wondered about the inner workings of tech events, now’s your chance to get involved. Volunteer spots are limited, so […]

Own is the latest alternative to TikTok to emerge in the market, featuring blockchain technology and a token economy.

The Senate Finance Committee’s language would take a sledgehammer to some parts of the renewable-friendly Inflation Reduction Act while sparing others. 

Social networks are bolstering their terms of service against scrapers and bots that crawl the website to train AI models. Days after Elon Musk-owned X updated its terms to explicitly prohibit AI model training, decentralized social network Mastodon today updated its own rules to bar any kind of model training, as well. “We explicitly prohibit […]

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reports that scammers made a fake Venmo that mimics a real cancer nonprofit’s handle.

A new report comes amid rising concern about how China will use new tools to power covert actions, as Western intelligence services also embrace the technology.

The digital health startup says it secured the fresh capital to update its valuation and finance acquisitions.

UNFI has not yet described the nature of the cyberattack, though it told investors last week that it had shut down its entire network to contain the incident. The ongoing outage is preventing the company from fulfilling and distributing customer orders at scale.

The ICO said over 150,000 U.K. residents had data stolen in the breach.

Here’s how to pick the best mattress for your sleep needs, straight from a professional mattress tester.

Amazon has revealed that Prime Day 2025 will take place on July 8-11, extending the annual sale event to four days this year. Amazon notes that consumers will be able to shop for “pantry staples and snacks for summer gatherings to home-improvement must-haves, back-to-school supplies, health and personal care finds, family-favorite toys, best-selling books, pet […]

Rising-star defense tech Mach Industries has announced a new $100 million round from Khosla, Bedrock and Sequoia.

Adobe is launching its Firefly mobile app on iOS and Android for consumers to create AI-powered media

Honda will supply last-mile delivery companies with the Fastport eQuad.

Amazon is rebranding Prime Student as Prime for Young Adults, and if you're 18-24 years old, you can try it right now for free.

Jon Stewart interviewed John Mulaney on "The Daily Show", with entertainingly silly results.

The lawsuit alleges Apple violates competition laws by forcing users of its devices to back up critical files and device settings on iCloud.

Looking to jazz up your portable gaming experience? Here are the best accessories we've tested for the Nintendo Switch 2.

Fresh details of the 2026 Nissan Leaf show big improvements, including a 300-mile range and much-needed redesign. But will it be enough to help the brand recapture any of its early market lead?

The tech industry talks a lot about how AI is going to transform work. Legal startup Crosby, which just came out of stealth, is an extreme example.

Coralogix, an Israeli startup offering a full-stack observability and security platform, has raised $115 million at a pre-money valuation of over $1 billion, almost doubling in three years from its last round in 2022. With the influx of cash, the startup is looking to expand its engineering base in India and develop its AI agent. […]

The ecommerce platforms argue that duties shouldn’t apply to secondhand items being given a new life.

As of June 17, the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are on sale at Amazon for $199.95. That's 20% off their usual list price of $249.99.

Endeavor Catalyst, the co-investment fund affiliated with global entrepreneurial network Endeavor Global, is raising a new $300 million fund, its fifth and largest fund yet, as it looks to deepen its bet on high-growth startups across Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, TechCrunch has learned. The new fund, according to sources, is […]

ASB GlassFloor makes a glass playing surface for sports arenas that can show animations, track athletes' performance, and repaint court lines with a tap. Pros in Europe are already playing on it.

Seth Meyers has reacted to the news that Trump is launching his own gold-colored smartphone, the T1.

Yosemite National Park's stunning beauty becomes a terrifying presence in the trailer for "Untamed", starring Eric Bana and Sam Neill.

As of June 17, the Samsung Galaxy Watch FE is on sale at Amazon for $199.99. It's usually listed for $249.99, so you're saving 20%.

Meta and Oakley are apparently collaborating on smart glasses, due to launch this Friday.

Connections: Sports Edition is a New York Times word game about finding common sports threads between words. How to solve the puzzle.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says Hugging Face has launched affordable open-source humanoid robots for home AI exploration.

As importers find creative ways to avoid paying Donald Trump’s tariffs, a flood of tipsters is coming forward to keep alleged troublemakers in check.

Carrie Coon appeared on "The Tonight Show" and reacted to the "White Lotus" meme of her running.

How to watch Concacaf Gold Cup for free. Live stream Costa Rica vs. Dominican Republic in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free.

Coming to Netflix in July, "All the Sharks" sees teams of shark experts travelling the world to photograph as many sharks as they can.

As of June 17, the Anker Solix C1000 Portable Power Station is on sale at Amazon for $448.99. It's usually listed for $799, so you're saving 44%.

Ten Democratic lawmakers sent a letter to the tech company this week asking about its expanding contracts under the Trump administration.

VidCon 2025 will induct its first-ever Hall of Fame class of pioneering creators, including Rhett and Link, Hank Green, Grace Helbig, and more.

How to watch Concacaf Gold Cup for free. Live stream Canada vs. Honduras in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free.

How to watch Concacaf Gold Cup for free. Live stream Curacao vs. El Salvador in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for free.

How to watch Club World Cup for free. Live stream Monterrey vs. Inter Milan in the 2025 Club World Cup for free.

How to watch Club World Cup for free. Live stream Ulsan HD vs. Mamelodi Sundowns in the 2025 Club World Cup for free.

A definitive roundup of the biggest viral moments, memes, TikTok trends, and internet drama that shaped 2025 online, from Labubu to JD Vance's big baby head.

Upgrade the way you listen to content with the JBL Soundgear Sense True Wireless Open-Ear Headphones, now just $74.99 (reg. $149.95).

Bring home a Microsoft Surface SE for only $189.99 (reg. $378.99) while supplies last.

Sleep soundly all summer with this twin Bamboo Blend 2000 Thread Count Chambray Sheet Set, now for just $28.99 (reg. $99).

Learn new things all summer long and beyond with this lifetime subscription to Headway Premium, now for just $47.99 with code READ20 through July 20.

Lauren Riihimaki, aka LaurDIY, started her YouTube channel over a decade ago, filming DIY content. Here's what she's learned about turning it into a lasting career.

A new study reveals the key lies not in the production of a regrowth molecule, but in that molecule's controlled destruction. The discovery could inspire future regenerative medicine.

Save 44% on the Soundcore Space A40 earbuds at Amazon.

Answers to each clue for the June 17, 2025 edition of NYT's The Mini crossword puzzle.

Save 20% on the Google Nest WiFi Pro at Amazon.

Save 50% on the Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet at Amazon.

The Meta AI app's new pop-up warns that users' chatbot prompts may be public. Here's how to keep your chats off the Discovery feed.

Google has unveiled its Safety Charter in India, which will expand its AI-led developments for fraud detection and combating scams across the country, the company’s largest market outside the United States. Digital fraud in India is rising. Fraud related to the Indian government’s instant payment system UPI grew 85% year-over-year to nearly 11 billion Indian […]

How to get free books on Stuff Your Kindle Day. Download free romance books on the latest Stuff Your Kindle Day.

Spotify's Daniel Ek just led a €600 million investment in Helsing, a four-year-old, Munich-based defense tech company that is now valued at €12 billion, according to the Financial Times. The deal makes it one of Europe's most valuable privately held companies; it also highlights Europe's scramble to build its own military muscle as the world grows messier and the U.S. turns inward.

Amazon confirmed that Prime Day will be longer this year in an announcement of the exact four-day sale window.

Ditch subscription fees and get Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more for life for only $49.97.

How to watch Glastonbury for free. Live stream Glastonbury 2025 for free from anywhere in the world.

Hints and answers to today's Hurdle all in one place.

How to watch Club World Cup for free. Live stream River Plate vs. Urawa Red Diamonds for free.

How to watch Club World Cup for free. Live stream Fluminense vs. Borussia Dortmund for free.

The best beginner-friendly drones, including models from brands like DJI and Holy Stone.

Tinder launched a new Double Date feature, which allows users to team up with friends and chat with potential matches together.

The shooter allegedly researched several “people search” sites in an attempt to target his victims, highlighting the potential dangers of widely available personal data.

Connections is a New York Times word game that's all about finding the "common threads between words." How to solve the puzzle.

The NYT Strands hints and answers you need to make the most of your puzzling experience.

Here's the answer for "Wordle" #1459 on June 17 as well as a few hints, tips, and clues to help you solve it yourself.

The SP80 team is aiming to smash the world sailing speed record and set a new one of over 80 knots. We interviewed the CEO (who's also one of the pilots) to learn about how the team's boat works and what it's like to sail.

Tinder launches a feature so friends can swipe together and potentially go on dates.

OpenAI and Microsoft have an increasingly strained relationship, according to a recent WSJ report.

Mounted on Formula One cars and used in real races, the new movie helped bring features like log encoding and ACES support to the iPhone 15 Pro.

Pornainen recently turned on a 100 MWh thermal battery filled with ground up soapstone.

These natural, organic mattresses are eco-friendly alternatives to conventional models and just as comfortable.

The President finally has his American-made phone, but can it stack up to the competition?

Netflix's shark-centric reality series, "All the Sharks," premieres July 4.

Since Trump took office, ICE arrests have more than doubled. Business throughout the US economy are sounding the alarm on the potential impact.

We don’t know much about the new Trump Mobile phone or the company’s data plan, but we sure do have a lot of questions.

Influencers like Alex Jones and Elon Musk have spent the weekend blaming the murder of Democratic lawmaker Melissa Hortman on leftists and the deep state.

Instagram is testing the ability for users to repost posts, the company confirmed to TechCrunch on Monday.

Instagram users report that their accounts were banned even though they had not violated the company's terms of service or other policies.

Battle it out in front of 10,000+ startup leaders, investors, and media at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025. It’s your moment to be seen, funded, and remembered — and maybe even walk away with $100,000 in equity-free funding.

Threads, Meta’s microblogging platform, is testing spoiler text, according to a post from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Spoiler text refers to words (or images) that are greyed out in a post and only become readable if you manually click to see them. As the name suggests, spoiler text is often used on platforms like Discord […]

Sterling Stock Picker is an AI-driven investment tool that helps you invest in the stock market, and it's only A$84 for life.

Looking for the best National Orgasm Day deals? We've got you. Here are the best deals on vibrators, dildos, cock rings, and more.

Save on Lego flower building sets at Amazon, including the Daffodil, Sunflower, and Cherry Blossom building sets for up to 49% off.

Become a piano pro by the end of summer with this lifetime subscription to Skoove Premium Piano Lessons, now just $119.99 with code SAVE20 through July 20.

The Merach R50 rowing machine is on sale at Amazon for $476.99, down from the list price at Merach of $729.99. That's a 35% discount.

Patreon is bumping its take fee from creators from 8% to 10%, but only for new signups.

The LG 75” UT70 LED webOS TV is on sale for $499.99 with a discount of $200 at Best Buy.

The Roku 75-inch Plus QLED 4K TV is on sale for just $499.99 at Amazon. That's 50% off its list price and the lowest price on record.

As of June 16, you can get the Apple M3 MacBook Air on sale for just $699 at Best Buy, saving you $200 off its list price.

A couple in London, England, used an Apple AirTag to steal back their expensive luxury car after police didn't help.

Right now the Jackery Explorer 290 Portable Solar Generator and battery bank is on sale for $170.99, get it and save $79.

A fresh Samsung Z Fold 7 leak reveals potential new information about the foldable phone's camera, hardware, and AI tools.

As of June 16, you can get a free iPhone 16 Pro Max ($1,199.99 retail) when you open a new line on Verizon's Unlimited Ultimate plan.

Users have reported slowed down videos while using an ad-blocker on YouTube.

Through June 24, you can save up to $100 when you reserve a new Samsung smart monitor for preorder. Plus, enter to win Samsung gear.

TikTok introduced more AI features for its suite of advertising tools on TikTok Symphony.

Right now, get an Apple 2024 Mac Mini (M4 chip, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) for $499 and save $100, or 17%.

If you can't afford Microsoft’s $150 suite of office tools, there’s a web-based version that’s free to use—and nearly just as capable.